Easy depression control mechanism for a calculating machine

ABSTRACT

A self-contained mechanism comprising a plurality of translatably mounted operation control slides is attachable to one of the side frames of a calculating machine in juxtaposition with the key stems of a plurality of operation control keys disposed in the keyboard of such machine. Upon depression of any one of these operation control keys, a cycle initiating slide is activated, and at least one control slide corresponding to the depressed key is simultaneously translated from a central inactive home position to either a forward or rearward activating position wherein selected cooperation is provided with the various mechanisms of the calculating machine to produce corresponding machine functions.

United States Patent Donald R. Crain Livonia;

Charles A. Haase, Dowagiac, Mich. [2l] Appl. No. 818,867

[72] Inventors [22] Filed Apr. 24, 1969 [45] Patented Jan. 5,1971

[73 Assignee Burroughs Corporation Detroit, Mich. a corporation ofMichigan [54] EASY DEPRESSION CONTROL MECHANISM FOR A CALCULATINGMACHINE I4 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

[ 52] U.S. Cl 23S/60, 23S/62 [5l] lnt.Cl. G06c21/00 [50] Field ofSearch235/60 Gen.,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,861,746 1l/l958 Anderson235/62 3,042,300 7/1962 Anderson 235/62 Primary Examiner-Stephen J.Tomsky Attorneys-Kenneth L. Miller and Frank H. Cullen ABSTRACT: Aself-contained mechanism comprising a plurality of translatably mountedoperation control slides is attachable to one of the side frames of acalculating machine in juxtaposition with the key stems of a pluralityof operation control keys disposed in the keyboard of such machine. Upondepression of any one of these operation control keys, a cycleinitiating slide is activated, and at least one control slidecorresponding to the depressed key is simultaneously translated from acentral inactive home position to either a forward or rearwardactivating position wherein selected cooperation is provided with thevarious mechanisms of the calculating machine to produce correspondingmachine functions.

PATENTEUJAN sm 3552.643

' snm 10F a INVENTORS. (QIONALD R. CRAIN. BY HARLES A. HAASE.

AGENT PATENTE() JAN 5 197| SHEET 2 UF l PATENIEUJAN sign 3.552.543

' snm 3 nF 4 .wai

EASY DEPRESSION CONTROLr M ECl-IANISM FOR A CALCULATING MACHINEBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Calculating machines are generally providedwith a plurality of live operation control keys which are depressiblyarranged in predetermined column columns and rows ofthe calculatingmachine's keyboard, and which are individually coopcrable with thevarious function producing mechanisms of the calculating machine, suchkeys being directly connected by linkage means to such sundrymechanisms. As a consequence of this arrangement, considerable force iscommonly required in order to depress the operation control keys, suchdepression being hampered by the weight and drag of the variousmechanisms themselves. As an additional consequence of this arrangement,serious limitations are presented to the convenient adaptation of thecalculating machine, on the users premises, to changing applicationalneeds, wherein it may be deemed advantageous to adapt specific controlkeys so that they might perform functions different from those intendedby the manufacturer. Accordingly, an operation control key located in agiven keyboard position is generally limited to the function producingcharacteristics that were anticipated at the time the machine was builtby the manufacturer, and changes therein are normally realizable only atnear prohibitive cost and inconvenience. Specifically, suchchanges inthe functional characteristics of one or more operation control keysgenerally require extensive disassembly, modification and reassembly ofthe various function producing mechanisms.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is accordingly an object of the presentinvention to provide means whereby the operation control keys of acalculating machine may be depressed with a minimum of force and effort,and whereby the function producing characteristics of any of theoperation control keys may be altered at minimum cost and inconvenience,such alteration merely involving the removal and replacement of readilyaccessible operation control slides.

An important aspect of the invention'is the use of a plurality offunction producing control slides which are mounted for two degrees offreedom on an auxiliary side frame that is readily attachable to one ofthe exterior side frames of a calculating machine. The upper edges ofthese control slides are provided with a plurality of slots thedistinctive slope formations of which are effective, in response to thedepression of corresponding operation control keys, to translate thecontrol slides from a central home position to either a forward orrearward activating position. Included amongthe control slides is acycle initiating slide which is activatable by the depression of each ofthe operation control keys, such activation being effective to lower thecontrol slides from their upper home positions to their lower actuatingpositions wherein cooperation is provided as between the forwardly andrearwardly translated control slides and the corresponding functionproducing mechanisms ofthe machine.

Another aspect of the invention is the use of a pair of interconnectedbellcranks and a biased cam associated therewith as a means of loweringthe control slides from their upper home positions to their loweractuating positions, the interconnected bellcranks serving also as ameans for mounting the control slides for their said two degrees offreedom. Still another aspect of the invention is the use of latchingmeans associated with the cycle initiating slide, such latching meansserving to latchably secure the control slides in both their upper homeand lower actuating positions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other objects, aspects andadvantages of the invention will be more clearly understood from thefollowing description when read in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. l is an inside elevation ofthe preferred embodiment of theinvention showing the auxiliary side frame with the interconnectedbellcranks, the biased cam,and the cycle initiating slide mountedthereon, the latter slide being disposed in its upper home position;

FIG. 2 is an inside elevation of'the invention showing the various partsof FIG. I in their activated states and with the cycle initiating slidelocated in its lowered position;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view ofthe auxiliary side frame showing theinterconnected bellcranks and a pair of grooved shal'ts mounted thereon;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view taken from the top side showing the cycleinitiating slide and four representative operation control slidesmounted in theirl respective grooves of the grooved shafts; v

FIG. 5 is an inside elevation showing a pair of operation control slidesin their upper home and central positions, and showing also an operationcontrol key in relationship with corresponding slopes formed on theupper edges thereof;

FIG. 6 is an inside elevation showing the control slides of FIG. 5 intheir lowered positions, such slides having been translated in oppositedirections from their central home positions; and

FIG. 7 is a detailed view showing two of the operation control slides ofFIG. 4 in their disassembled states.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The preferred embodiment of theinvention comprises an auxiliary side frame 21 by means of which thevarious parts of the mechanism are operably supported', the auxiliaryside frame being attachable to the right side exterior side frame of thecalculating machine, The embodiment includes a pair of interconnected,rotatable bellcranks 23 and 25 which serve to support a plurality oftranslatable control slides such as the slides 85, 115, 117, 119 and 121shown in the drawings. The

bellcranks 23 and 25 are rotatably mounted on the auxiliary side frame21 by means ofa pair of studs 27 which arc fixed to the respectivebellcranks and which extend therefrom through a pair of bushings 28 intojournaled termination in the side frame 21.

The bellcranks 23 and 25 are pivotally connected at their lowermostextremities by a link 29. A spring 79 connected at one end to a stud 8lfixed to the side frame 21 and at the other end to a stud 83 fixed tothe bellcrank 23, serves to bias the bellcranks 23 and 25 in a clockwisedirection (as viewed in the drawings) on their respective studs 27. Thebellcrank 25 is provided with a roller 55 supported by an extended stud57 fixed to the bellcrank 25 and extending in the direction ofthe sideframe 21. Rotatably mounted on the auxiliary side frame 21 also is alatch 59, a cam 35, and an arm 41, the latter cam and arm beingconnected by a link 43pivotally supported by a stud 45 fixed to the arm41 and a screw stud 47 secured to the cam 35. The latch 59 is rotatablymounted on the side frame 21 by means of a stud 60 and comprises anoffset lug 61 formed on its lowermost portion and an extension 63 (FIG.3) which is disposed in cooperating relationship with the extension ofthe extended stud 57 adjacent the roller 55 supported therebyA The cam35 is rotatably mounted on the side frame 21 by means of a stud 37 fixedto the cam 35 and extending through a bushing 39 into journaledtermination in the side frame, the location of the cam 35 being suchthat a raised portion thereof is disposed in coopcrable relationshipwith the roller 55 of the bellcrank 25. The cam 35 is provided with anotch 5I, and a cutout 53 the purpose of which is described in asubsequent paragraph. The rotatable arm 4l is mounted on the auxiliaryside frame 2l by means of stud 42 which is fixed to the arm 41 andextends through a bushing 44 into journaled termination in the auxiliaryside frame. The arm 4l is provided with a roller 49 the function ofwhich is hereinafter described. The latch 59 is biased in aclockwise'dircetion on the stud 60 by a spring 7l connected to a stud 75fixed to the side frame 2l and to a stud 73 fixcfl to the latch 59, suchclockwise bias serving to urge thc lug 61 into cooperating relationshipwith the cam 35 and more particularly with the notch 51 formed therein.The cam 35 is biased in a clockwise direction on the stud 37 by a spring65 connected to a limit stud 69 fixed to the side frame and to a stud 67fixed to the side surface of the cam, such bias serving to rotationallyurge the cam 35 in such manner that its raised portion would upwardlyactivate the roller 55 supported by the bellcrank 25 and would therebyrotate the bellcranks and 23 in a counterclockwise direction on theirrespective studs 27.

Each of the bellcranks 23 and 25 is provided with a grooved shaft 31 asbest shown in FIG. 3, such grooved shafts being so disposed on theirrespective bellcranks that the clockwise rotation of the bellcranks bythe spring 79 results in the elevation of the shafts, and thecounterclockwise rotation of the bellcranks by the spring 65 and the cam35 results in the lowering of such shafts. lt will be observed from FIG.3 that each of the grooved shafts of the embodiment is provided with 12grooves 33 (FIG. 3), such grooves forming 12 parallel pairs of coplanargrooves. Each of these pairs of grooves is designed to accommodate aseparate slide, as suggested by FIG. 4.

As shown in FIGS. l and 2, a cycle initiating slide 85 is disposed inthe first pair of grooves adjacent the bellcranks 23 and 25, such slidebeing translatably carried by the slideable cooperation of a pair ofslots 89 formed in the slide and said first pair of grooves 33. An'enlarged circular portion of each of the slots 89 serves to facilitatethe assembly of the slide on the shaft 31. This cycle initiating slideis lprovided with a plurality of slots formed in its uppermost portion,such slots being formed in part by angular slopes 87 which are camminglyresponsive to the depression of the various operation control keys totranslate the slide a minimal distance in a rearward direction (asviewed in the drawings). As indicated by FIG. 5. each operation controlkey is provided with an elongated key stem 86 that transverses all ofthe control slides that may be mounted on the grooved shafts 31. Theelongated key stern 86 of each of the operation control keys isaccordingly transversely aligned with a corresponding slope 87 of thecycle initiating slide 85 and is therefore effective for rearwardlyactivating the slide 85 against the bias of a spring 77 connected to anaperture formed in the rightmost extremity of the slide (as viewed inFIGS. 1 and 2) and to the stud 60. The cycle initiating slide 85 is alsoprovided with a cutout 91, a slide latch 95, and a pivot pawl 107. Thecutout 91 affords free activation of the slide 85 without interference'from an aligning bar 93 which is rigidly connected to the auxiliary sideframe 2l and to the side frame of the calculating machine, the purposeof the aligning bar being described in a subsequent section. The slidelatch 95 is translatably mounted on the cycle initiating slide 85 bymeans of a pair of shouldered studs 97 in cooperation with a slot formedin the latch, thc latter having a latch portion 103 disposed incooperating relationship with a square stud 105 fixed to the auxiliaryside frame 21. A spring 101 connected to a depending lug of the slidelatch 95 and to an aperture formed in the cycle initiating slide servesto bias the slide latch 95 and the latch portion 103 in a rightwarddirection (as viewed in drawings) on the cycle initiating slide 85. Thepivot pawl 107 is rotatably mounted by a shouldered stud 109, therotation of the pivot pawl thereon being defined by the cooperation ofalimit stud 111 fixed to the slide 85 and the extremities of a slotformed in the pivot pawl. A spring 113 is connected to an apertureformed in the pivot pawl and to a stud 114 fixed to the slide 85.

The previously mentioned l2 pairs of grooves of the grooved shafts 3l ofthe preferred embodiment provide for the accommodation of the cycleinitiating slide 85 and ll operation control slides. Four representativeslides of the possible l l control slides are shown in FIGS. 4 through 7and indentified by reference numbers 115, 117, 119 and 121. Theserepresentative control slides are disposed in the twelfth, eleventh,eighth, and fifth pairs of grooves 33 of the shafts 31, respectively. ltwill be observed that each of these four representative control slidesis also provided with a pair of slots 89, and that each is provided witha cutout 123 having a pair of prongs 125 depending thercinto, suchprongs forming three slots which are differentially engagcahle with thealigning bar 93 when the slides are lowered from their upper homepositions to their lower actuated positions` as described in greaterdetail in the following section.

OPERATION OF THE CONTROL MECHANISM When a calculating machine comprisingthe preferred embodiment of the invention is at rest, ythe cycleinitiating slide and the various operation control slides translatablysupported by the grooved shafts 31 are located in an elevated positionwherein the inclined camming slopes 87 of the various slides aredisposed in contiguous relationship with the elongated key stems 86 ofthe various operation control keys, such elevated positioning of theslides being effectuated as follows:

1. The cycle initiating slide 85 is held in its forward position(rightmost position as viewed in the drawings) by the spring 2. Thelatch portion 103 of the slide latch 95 is disposed in latchable contactwith the uppermost surface of the square stud 105, the slide latch beingheld in its forward position on the cycle initiating slide 85 by thespring |01. This latched positioning of the slide latch is effective toretain the bell-` cranks 23 and 25 in their clockwise rocked positionson their studs 27 (as viewed in the drawings), the roller 55 of thebellcrank 25 serving to bloekably limit the clockwise rotation of thecam 35 by means of its blocking contact with an arcuate portion thereofformed by the cutout 53, and the extension of the extended stud 57serving to hold the latch 59 in a slightly counterclockwise rockedposition on the stud 60 by means of its contact with the extension 63.The cam 35 is held in its counterclockwise rocked position against thebias of the spring 65 by the blocking contact of the roller 55. Thevarious parts of the embodiment are accordingly positioned asillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5.

When one of the operation control keys of the calculating` machine isdepressed, the elongated key stern 86 of the depressed key effectively'translates the cycle initiating slide 85 a minimal rearward distance (tothe left as viewed in the drawings), at the same time translating one ormore operation control slides in either a forward or rearward directionfrom their central position or positions according to the angles of' theinclined camming slopes 87 that are encountered by the operation controlkey. The rearward translation of the cycle initiating slide servesinstantaneously to effectuate the followmg:

l. The latch portion 103 of the slide latch 95 is rearwardly withdrawnfrom the upper surface of the square stud 105.

2. The cam 35 is rotated in a clockwise direction on the stud 37 by thespring 65, such clockwise rotation serving to rotate the bellcranks 23and 25 in a counterclockwise direction on their studs 27 by the cammingaction ofthe raised portion of the cam against the roller 55 of thebellcrank 25, the counterclockwise rotation of the bellcranks beinglimited by contact of the lower portion of the bellcrank 25 against thelimit stud 69.

3. The cycle initiating slide 85 and the various operation controlslides are lowered by this counterclockwise rotation of the bellcranksto assume the position illustrated in FIGS` 2 and 6, the lowering ofthose control slides which were translated i from their centralpositions to either their forward or rearward positions being effectiveto actuate' the corresponding function producing mechanisms of thecalculating machine. Asthe control slides are lowered, an engagementoccurs as between one of the three slots formed by the prongs of eachcontrol slide and the aligning bar 93, those control slides which wererearwardly translated being aligned by means of the rearmost slots,those slides which were translated forwardly being aligned by means ofthe frontmost slots, and those control slides which were not translatedfrom their central positions being aligned by means of the centralslots.

4. Upon completion of the counterclockwise rotation of the bellcranks 23and 25, the slide latch 95 is activated forwardly by the springs 77 and101 such thatthe latch portion 103 assumes a blocking contact with thelower surface of the square stud 105, the various control slides beingthereby retained in actuating relationship with their correspondingfunction producing mechanisms throughout the cycling of the calculatingmachine.

As the calculating machine cycles to produce the selected machinefunctions, the embodiment of the invention is restored to its normalhome state in the following sequence and manner:

l. Early in the machine cycle, a cam associated with thc drive shaft ofthe calculating machine cooperates with the roller 49 ofthe arm 41 tothereby rotate the arm in a counterclockwise direction on its stud 42,and to rotate the cam 35 in a counterclockwise direction by means of thelink 43, such counterclockwise rotation of the cam serving to extendablypower the -spring 65. This countcrclockwise rotation of the cam 35 issufficient to permit the offset lug 61 of the latch 59 to assume ablocking position relative to the notch 5l, as motivated by the spring71.

2. Late in the machine cycle, a separate cam of the drive shaft of thecalculating machine forcibly contacts the pivot pawl 107 and therebytranslates the cycle initiating slide 85 a minimal distance in arearward direction (to the left as viewed in thedrawings), suchtranslation serving to withdraw the latch portion 103 of the latch 95from the lower surface of the square stud 105.

3. As the cycle initiating slide 85 is released, the spring 79 rotatesthe bellcranks 23 and 25 in a clockwise direction on the studs 27, suchrotation serving to elevate the grooved shafts 31 and the various slidesto their upper home positions wherein their inclined camming slopes 87are again disposed in contiguous relationship with the key stems of theoperation control keys. As the bellcrank 25 is so rotated, the extendedstud 57 contacts the extension 63 of the latch 59 to thereby unlatch theoffset lug 61 from the notch 5l of the cam 35. The latter cam isaccordingly permitted a minimal clockwise rotation whereby its raisedportion cornes into limiting contact with the roller 55. v

4. When the cycle initiating slide 85 is elevated to its upper homeposition, it is thereupon translated to its forward position on thegrooved shafts 31 by thespring 77, and the latch portion 103 of theslide latch 95 is restored to blocking contact with the upper surfaceofthe square stud 105, the slide 85 and the various operation controlslides being thereby conditioned for a subsequent depression ofvanoperation control key to initiate a succeeding function producing cycleof the calculating machine.

Whereas the cycle initiating slide 85 is translated to its forwardposition upon thecompletion of each machine cycle, the

l kvarious operation control slides (s uch'as slides 115, 117, 119

and 121) are permitted to remain in their forwardly or rearwardlytranslated positions upon such cycle completion, inasmuch as theselatter control slides are floatngly disposed in their respective pairsof grooves of the shafts 31. Since the elongated key stems 86 transverseall ofthe control slides, a given control slide which was translatablyactivated during the preceding function producing operation 'is eithertranslatably reactivated or restored to its central position upon thedepression of an operation control key to initiate a succeeding functionproducing operation, such translatable reactivation involving either thetranslation of previously activated control slides to their oppositeactivating positions, or in assuring that such slides remain in theirprevious translatably activated positions.

As an example of the types of operations that may be performed by thefunction producing mechanisms when forwardly or rearwardly translatedcontrol slides are lowered to their actuating positions, a briefdescription is herein set forth regarding the functions and purpose ofthe control slide 119 shown in FIGS. 4 and 7. This control :slide isparticularly adapted to the actuating requirements of a twodirectioncarry accumulator of a type contained in the calculating machine forwhich the preferred embodiment of the invention was developed. Thisaccumulator is comprised of a single set of accumulating gear wheelswhich are hoth additively and subtractively rotated in the performanceof add and subtract opera tions. A plurality of carry sectors containedin this accumulator may be revcrsibly biased in either an add or asubtract direction in response to the depression of selected operationcontrol keys of the keyboard. Accordingly, when an add operation controlkey is depressed. thec-ycle initiating slide is translated a minimaldistance in a rearward direction (as described in the foregoing), andthe control slide l t9 is trans lated to its forward activatingpositionwhcrcin its lowering will serve to bias the carry sectors in anadd direction and the accumulator gear wheels will be'rockahly engagedwith actuating racks after the latter racks have heen differentiallyelevated according to the numerical values indexed in thc keyboard, the`return restoration of the actuating racks serving to rotate theaccumulating gear wheels a corresponding distance in an add direction.On the other hand, when a suhtract operation control key is depressed,'the control slide l 19 is translated to its rearward activatingposition wherein its lowering will serve to bias the carry sectors in asubtract direction and the accumulating gear wheels will be rockablyengaged with the actuating racks prior tothe time the latter racks aredifferentially elevated according to the indexed values, thedifferential elevation of the actuating racks in such case serving torotate the accumulating gear wheels a corresponding distance in asubtract direction. When an operation control key other than an add or asubtract key is depressed, the control slide 119 is permitted to remainin its central position wherein its lowering will have no effect on theaccumulator, neither on the biasing of the carry sectors nor on theengagement of the gear wheels-withthe actuating racks.

While one embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, itwill be apparent that other adaptations and modifications can be madewithout departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. ln a calculating machine havingcycling means, a plurality of functionproducing mechanisms, and a plurality of cycle-initiating operationcontrol keys disposed in the keyboard thereof, a control mechanismresponsive to the depression of individual ones of said operationcontrol keys and effective for selectively activating at least oneof-said function producing mechanisms corresponding thereto, saidcontrol mechanism comprising:

a. support means attachable to said calculating machine;

b. a translatably mounted and unidirectionally biased cycle initiatingslide responsive activationally to the depression of each of saidplurality of operation control keys;

c. a plurality of translatably mounted operation control slides, each ofsaid slides being translatable from a central inactive position to afirst and a second activating position; and

d. means responsive to said activation of said cycle initiating slideand effective for actuating said plurality of operation control slides,said actuation of said control slides which have been translated fromtheir-said central positions to their said first or said secondactivating positions serving to establish operable cooperation with saidcorresponding function producing mechanisms of said calculating machineand to thereby produce machine functions corresponding to saidindividually depressed operation control keys.

2. The control mechanism defined in claim 1 wherein said translatablemounting of said cycle initiating slide and said plurality of operationcontrol slides is provided by means of:

a. a pair of spaced-apart slots longitudinally formed in said cycleinitiating slide and in each o f said operation control slides;

b. a pair of spaced-apart, coplanar and interconnected bellcranksrotatably supported by said support means; and

c. a pair of spaced-apart, coplanar grooved shafts fixed tocorresponding side surfaces of said pair of bellcranks, each of saidgrooved shafts being fixed to its respective bellcrank at acorresponding equidistant spaced-apart point from the point of rotationof said bellcrank, each of said shafts having a corresponding pluralityof grooves formed therein, the axially disposed grooves of said shaftsforming parallel pairs of coplanar grooves into which the walls of saidslots of said slides are translatably fitted.

3. The control mechanism defined in claim 2 wherein said unidirectionalbias of said cycle initiating slide is provided by means of a firstspring connected to a first aperture formed in said slide and to a studfixed to said support means.

4. The control mechanism defined in claim 3 wherein said cycleinitiating slide additionally comprises:

a. a predetermined number of vertical slots formed in the upper edgethereof` said predetermined number corresponding to the number of saidoperation control keys disposed in said keyboard of said calculatingmachine, each of said slots having an inclined rear wall for cammablyreceiving the key stein of its corresponding operation control key andfor thereby translating said slide a minimal distance in a directionopposite its said unidirectional bias;

a slotted first latch slideably mounted on said cycle initiating slideby means of a pair of spacedapart shoul dered studs housed within saidslot thereof and fixed to a side surface of said slide, said first latchhaving a latch portion extending outwardly therefrom and being biased inthe direction of said latch portion;

a second aperture formed in said cycle initiating slide, and

d. a rotatably biased pivot pawl carried by a stud fixed to said cycleinitiating slide, said pivot pawl being cammably responsive to saidcycling means for translating said slide a minimal distance in saiddirection opposite said unidirectional bias thereof.

5. The control mechanism defined in claim 4 wherein each of saidplurality of operation control slides comprises:

a. a predetermined number of differentially arranged inclined cammingsurfaces disposed in nonsymmetrical sawtooth fashion on the upper edgethereof, said camming surfaces being responsive to the depression ofcorresponding ones of said operation control keys to translate saidslide from its said central position to its said first and said secondactivating positions;

. an aperture formed in said slide in associated relationship with saidsecond aperture formed in said cycle initiating slide, said aperturehaving a first, second and third slot formed by a pair of spaced-apartprongs depending from the upper wall of said aperture, said second slotbeing associated with and defining said central positioning of saidslide and said first and said third slots being associated with anddefining the positioning of said slide in its said first and said secondactivating positions, respectively; and

c. a first and a second variously detailed extremity` said firstextremity being so detailed as to establish said operable cooperation ofsaid slide with its said corresponding function producing mechanism whensaid slide is actuated while located in its said first activatingposition, and said second extremity being so detailed as to establishsaid operable cooperation of said slide with its said correspondingfunction producing mechanism when said slide is actuated while locatedin its' said second activating position.

6. The control mechanism defined in claim 5 wherein each of saidplurality of operation control keys is provided with an elongated keystem that transverses said cycle initiating slide and all of saidoperation control slides, said elongated key stem cooperating with saidinclined rearwall ofa corresponding one of said vertical slots formed insaid cycle initiating slide to thereby translate said slide in saiddirection opposite its said undirectional bias, and cooperating alsowith corresponding ones of said inclined camming surfaces of saidplurality of operation control slides, said latter cooperation beingeffective to translate said operationontrol slides that are associatedwith said depressed operationcontrol key'to either their said first ortheir said second activating positionsy and to return said previouslyactivated operation control slides that are disassociated from saiddepressed control key to their said central positions.

7. The control mechanism dcfinedfjn claim 6 wherein said actuation ofsaid plurality of operation control slides is characterized by thelowering of said slides from their upper honte positions, wherein theirsaid inclined camming surfaces are disposed in contiguous cooperablerelationship with said clongated key stems of said plurality ofoperation control keys, to their lower positions wherein those ofsaidcontrol slides which are located in their said first or their saidsecond activating positions operably cooperate with their corresponding`function producing mechanisms to produce machine functionscorresponding to said depressed operation control keys.

8. The control mechanism defined in claim 7 wherein saiid support meansadditionally comprises: i v

a. a square stud fixed thereto in cooperating relationship with saidlatch portion of said first latch slideably mounted on said cycleinitiatingmslide` said latch portion being blockably engagcablc with theuppermost or lowermost surfaces of said square stud, said square studcooperating also with one of sadsidewalls of said second aperture ofsaid cycle initiating slide to blockably limit said unidirectionalbiasing effect of said first spring 'on said cycle initiating slide; andb. an aligning bar connected to said support means aridlto the sideframe of said calculating'mac'hine, said aligning -bar in cooperationwith said first, said second and said third slots of said aperturesformed in said operation control slides serving to define said firstactivating` said central inactive, and said second activating` positionsof said operation control slides, respectively. 9. The control mechanismdefined in claim 8 wherein said plurality of operation control slidesare retained in their said upper home positions by the blockable contactof said latch portion of said first latch against said uppermost surfaceof said square stud fixed to said support means, said blockable contactbeing enabled by the home positioning of said cycle initiating slide asinfluenced and controlled by said first spring.

10. The control mechanism defined in claim 8 wherein said means foractuating said plurality of operation control slides comprises:

a. a cam having an abbreviated raised portion adjacent a cutout formedtherein, said cam being rotatably mounted by means of a first stud fixedthereto and journaled within said support means;

b. a second spring connected to a limit stud fixed to said support meansand to a second stud fixed to said cam at a point radially disposed ofsaid first stud, said second spring serving to bias said cam in apredetermined rotational direction on said first stud;- and c. a firstroller rotatably mounted by means of an extended stud fixed to a firstof said pair of interconnected bellcranks in cooperating relationshipwith said raised por tion and said cutout of said cam, said secondspring being expanded to its maximum biasing power when said cycleinitiating slide and said plurality of operation control slides areretainably located in their said upper home positions by said blockablecontact of said latch portion of said first latch against said uppermostsurface of said square stud, said first roller mounted on said firstbellcrank in cooperation with said cutout of said cam serving toblockably limit said second spring against said maximum biasing powerwhen said uppermost surface of said square stud is so engaged bysaid'latch portion of said first latch.

l1. The control mechanism definedin claim l wherein said actuation ofsaid plurality of operation control slides from their said upper homepositionsto their said lower function producing positions, upondepression ofone of said operation control keys, is characterized by:

said minimal translation of said cycle-initiating slide in saiddirection opposite its said unidirectional bias, said translation beingeffectuated by said camming action of said elongated key stem of saiddepressed operation control key; s I b. the withdrawal of said latchportion of said first latch from said uppermost surface of said squarestud fixed to said support means, said withdrawal resulting from saidtranslation of said cycle initiating slide; v c. the rotation of saidpair of interconnected bellcranks to thereby lower said pair of groovedshafts supporting said cycle initiating slide and said operationcontrol. slides, said rotation of said bellcranks being motivated by therotation of said cam by said second spring and by the camming effect ofsaid raised portion of said cam against said first roller of said firstbellcrank, said biased rotation of said bellcranks being limitedby thecontact of said first bellcranks lower extremity against said limit studfixedto said support means, said lowering of said operation controlslides being effective to engage said translatably selected slots formedin said apertures of said control slides with said aligning barsupported by said support means and said side frame of said calculatingmachine; and

d. the translation of said cycle initiating slide in said direction ofits said unidirectional bias by said first spring, said translationbeing effective to latchably engage said latch portion of said firstlatch with said lowermost surface of said square stud, said engagementserving to retain said operation control slides inl their saidlowerpositions for one complete cycle of said' calculating machine.

l2. The control mechanism defined in claim ll wherein said second springis restored to its said maximum biasing power relative to said cam earlyin said complete cycling of said calculating machine, and wherein saidcycle initiating slide and said operation control slides are restoredfrom their lower positions to their upper home positions late in saidcomplete cycling, said former-restoration being effectuated by saidcycling means in cooperation with cam restoring means, and said latterrestoration being effectuated by said cycling point directly oppositesaid abbreviated raised portion ol' said cam; a notch formed in saidcam; and a biased second latch rotatably mounted on said support means,said second latch having an extension arm. and anoffset lug disposed incooperable relationship with said notch formed in said cam, said cyclingmeans in cooperation with said second roller being effective early insaid complete cycling to activate said rotatable arm and said link andto thereby rotate said cam in a restorational direction and into alatched relationship with said offset lug of said second latch, saidrestorational rotation of said cam being effective to expand said secondspring to its said maximum biasing power.

14. The control mechanism defined inelam I3 wherein said bellcrankrestoring means comprises a third spring connected to said support meansand to a second of said pair of interconnected bellcranks, said thirdspringheing effet-tive. in response to the withdrawal ofsaid latchportion of said lirst latch from said lowermost surface of said squarestud by said cooperation of said cycling means andsaidpivot pawl carriedby said cycle initiating slide, to restorably rotate said pair ofinterconnected bellcranks and to thereby' return said pair of groovedshafts and said slides to their normal home positions,

said restorable rotation of said first bcllcrank, through the Contact ofsaid extended stud supporting said first roller with said extension armof said second latch` being effective to unlatch said cam from saidoffset lug of said second latch and to return said first roller to itssaid blocking contact with said cutout of said cam, the completion ofsaid return of said pair ol' grooved shafts and said slides to theirsaidupper home positions being characterized by the translation of saidcycle initiating slide in the direction of its said unidirectional biasas influenced by said first spring, and by the latchable engageh ment ofsaid latch portion of said first latch with said uppermost surface ofsaid square stud.

1. In a calculating machine having cycling means, a plurality offunction producing mechanisms, and a plurality of cycleinitiatingoperation control keys disposed in the keyboard thereof, a controlmechanism responsive to the depression of individual ones of saidoperation control keys and effective for selectively activating at leastone of said function producing mechanisms corresponding thereto, saidcontrol mechanism comprising: a. support means attachable to saidcalculating machine; b. a translatably mounted and unidirectionallybiased cycle initiating slide responsive activationally to thedepression of each of said plurality of operation control keys; c. aplurality of translatably mounted operation control slides, each of saidslides being translatable from a central inactive position to a firstand a second activating position; and d. means responsive to saidactivation of said cycle initiating slide and effective for actuatingsaid plurality of operation control slides, said actuation of saidcontrol slides which have been translated from their said centralpositions to their said first or said second activating positionsserving to establish operable cooperation with said correspondingfunction producing mechanisms of said calculating machine and to therebyproduce machine functions corresponding to said individually depressedoperation control keys.
 2. The control mechanism defined in claim 1wherein said translatable mounting of said cycle initiating slide andsaid plurality of operation control slides is provided by means of: a. apair of spaced-apart slots longitudinally formed in said cycleinitiating slide and in each of said operation control slides; b. a pairof spaced-apart, coplanar and interconnected bellcranks rotatablysupported by said support means; and c. a pair of spaced-apart, coplanargrooved shafts fixed to corresponding side surfaces of said pair ofbellcranks, each of said grooved shafts being fixed to its respectivebellcrank at a corresponding equidistant spaced-apart point from thepoint of rotation of said bellcrank, each of said shafts having acorresponding plurality of grooves formed therein, the axially disposedgrooves of said shafts forming parallel pairs of coplanar grooves intowhich the walls of said slots of said slides are translatably fitted. 3.The control mechanism defined in claim 2 wherein said unidirectionalbias of said cycle initiating slide is provided by means of a firstspring connected to a first aperture formed in said slide and to a studfixed to said support means.
 4. The control mechanism defined in claim 3wherein said cycle initiating slide additionally comprises: a. apredetermined number of vertical slots formed in the upper edge thereof,said predetermined number corresponding to the number of said operationcontrol keys disposed in said keyboard of said calculating machine, eachof said slots having an inclined rear wall for cammably receiving thekey stem of its corresponding operation control key and for therebytranslating said slide a minimal distance in a direction opposite itssaid unidirectional bias; b. a slotted first latch slideably mounted onsaid cycle initiating slide by means of a pair of spaced-apartshouldered studs housed within said slot thereof and fixed to a sidesurface of said slide, said first latch having a latch portion extendingoutwardly therefrom and being biased in the direction of said latchportion; c. a second aperture formed in said cycle initiating slide, andd. a rotatably biased pivot pawl carried by a stud fixed to said cycleinitiating slide, said pivot pawl being cammably responsive to saidcycliNg means for translating said slide a minimal distance in saiddirection opposite said unidirectional bias thereof.
 5. The controlmechanism defined in claim 4 wherein each of said plurality of operationcontrol slides comprises: a. a predetermined number of differentiallyarranged inclined camming surfaces disposed in nonsymmetrical sawtoothfashion on the upper edge thereof, said camming surfaces beingresponsive to the depression of corresponding ones of said operationcontrol keys to translate said slide from its said central position toits said first and said second activating positions; b. an apertureformed in said slide in associated relationship with said secondaperture formed in said cycle initiating slide, said aperture having afirst, second and third slot formed by a pair of spaced-apart prongsdepending from the upper wall of said aperture, said second slot beingassociated with and defining said central positioning of said slide andsaid first and said third slots being associated with and defining thepositioning of said slide in its said first and said second activatingpositions, respectively; and c. a first and a second variously detailedextremity, said first extremity being so detailed as to establish saidoperable cooperation of said slide with its said corresponding functionproducing mechanism when said slide is actuated while located in itssaid first activating position, and said second extremity being sodetailed as to establish said operable cooperation of said slide withits said corresponding function producing mechanism when said slide isactuated while located in its said second activating position.
 6. Thecontrol mechanism defined in claim 5 wherein each of said plurality ofoperation control keys is provided with an elongated key stem thattransverses said cycle initiating slide and all of said operationcontrol slides, said elongated key stem cooperating with said inclinedrear wall of a corresponding one of said vertical slots formed in saidcycle initiating slide to thereby translate said slide in said directionopposite its said undirectional bias, and cooperating also withcorresponding ones of said inclined camming surfaces of said pluralityof operation control slides, said latter cooperation being effective totranslate said operation control slides that are associated with saiddepressed operation control key to either their said first or their saidsecond activating positions and to return said previously activatedoperation control slides that are disassociated from said depressedcontrol key to their said central positions.
 7. The control mechanismdefined in claim 6 wherein said actuation of said plurality of operationcontrol slides is characterized by the lowering of said slides fromtheir upper home positions, wherein their said inclined camming surfacesare disposed in contiguous cooperable relationship with said elongatedkey stems of said plurality of operation control keys, to their lowerpositions wherein those of said control slides which are located intheir said first or their said second activating positions operablycooperate with their corresponding function producing mechanisms toproduce machine functions corresponding to said depressed operationcontrol keys.
 8. The control mechanism defined in claim 7 wherein saidsupport means additionally comprises: a. a square stud fixed thereto incooperating relationship with said latch portion of said first latchslideably mounted on said cycle initiating slide, said latch portionbeing blockably engageable with the uppermost or lowermost surfaces ofsaid square stud, said square stud cooperating also with one of saidsidewalls of said second aperture of said cycle initiating slide toblockably limit said unidirectional biasing effect of said first springon said cycle initiating slide; and b. an aligning bar connected to saidsupport means and to the side frame of said calculating machine, saidaligning bar in cooperation with said First, said second and said thirdslots of said apertures formed in said operation control slides servingto define said first activating, said central inactive, and said secondactivating positions of said operation control slides, respectively. 9.The control mechanism defined in claim 8 wherein said plurality ofoperation control slides are retained in their said upper home positionsby the blockable contact of said latch portion of said first latchagainst said uppermost surface of said square stud fixed to said supportmeans, said blockable contact being enabled by the home positioning ofsaid cycle initiating slide as influenced and controlled by said firstspring.
 10. The control mechanism defined in claim 8 wherein said meansfor actuating said plurality of operation control slides comprises: a. acam having an abbreviated raised portion adjacent a cutout formedtherein, said cam being rotatably mounted by means of a first stud fixedthereto and journaled within said support means; b. a second springconnected to a limit stud fixed to said support means and to a secondstud fixed to said cam at a point radially disposed of said first stud,said second spring serving to bias said cam in a predeterminedrotational direction on said first stud; and c. a first roller rotatablymounted by means of an extended stud fixed to a first of said pair ofinterconnected bellcranks in cooperating relationship with said raisedportion and said cutout of said cam, said second spring being expandedto its maximum biasing power when said cycle initiating slide and saidplurality of operation control slides are retainably located in theirsaid upper home positions by said blockable contact of said latchportion of said first latch against said uppermost surface of saidsquare stud, said first roller mounted on said first bellcrank incooperation with said cutout of said cam serving to blockably limit saidsecond spring against said maximum biasing power when said uppermostsurface of said square stud is so engaged by said latch portion of saidfirst latch.
 11. The control mechanism defined in claim 10 wherein saidactuation of said plurality of operation control slides from their saidupper home positions to their said lower function producing positions,upon depression of one of said operation control keys, is characterizedby: a. said minimal translation of said cycle initiating slide in saiddirection opposite its said unidirectional bias, said translation beingeffectuated by said camming action of said elongated key stem of saiddepressed operation control key; b. the withdrawal of said latch portionof said first latch from said uppermost surface of said square studfixed to said support means, said withdrawal resulting from saidtranslation of said cycle initiating slide; c. the rotation of said pairof interconnected bellcranks to thereby lower said pair of groovedshafts supporting said cycle initiating slide and said operation controlslides, said rotation of said bellcranks being motivated by the rotationof said cam by said second spring and by the camming effect of saidraised portion of said cam against said first roller of said firstbellcrank, said biased rotation of said bellcranks being limited by thecontact of said first bellcrank''s lower extremity against said limitstud fixed to said support means, said lowering of said operationcontrol slides being effective to engage said translatably selectedslots formed in said apertures of said control slides with said aligningbar supported by said support means and said side frame of saidcalculating machine; and d. the translation of said cycle initiatingslide in said direction of its said unidirectional bias by said firstspring, said translation being effective to latchably engage said latchportion of said first latch with said lowermost surface of said squarestud, said engagement serving to retain said operation control slides intheir said lower positions for one complete cycle of said calculatingmachine.
 12. The control mechanism defined in claim 11 wherein saidsecond spring is restored to its said maximum biasing power relative tosaid cam early in said complete cycling of said calculating machine, andwherein said cycle initiating slide and said operation control slidesare restored from their lower positions to their upper home positionslate in said complete cycling, said former restoration being effectuatedby said cycling means in cooperation with cam restoring means, and saidlatter restoration being effectuated by said cycling means incooperation with said pivot pawl rotatably carried by said cycleinitiating slide and by bellcrank restoring means.
 13. The controlmechanism defined in claim 12 wherein said cam restoring meanscomprises: a. a rotatable arm supported by said support means, said armhaving a second roller mounted thereon in cooperating relationship withsaid cycling means; b. a link pivotally connecting said rotatable armand said cam, said latter connection being at a radially disposed pointdirectly opposite said abbreviated raised portion of said cam; c. anotch formed in said cam; and d. a biased second latch rotatably mountedon said support means, said second latch having an extension arm, and anoffset lug disposed in cooperable relationship with said notch formed insaid cam, said cycling means in cooperation with said second rollerbeing effective early in said complete cycling to activate saidrotatable arm and said link and to thereby rotate said cam in arestorational direction and into a latched relationship with said offsetlug of said second latch, said restorational rotation of said cam beingeffective to expand said second spring to its said maximum biasingpower.
 14. The control mechanism defined in claim 13 wherein saidbellcrank restoring means comprises a third spring connected to saidsupport means and to a second of said pair of interconnected bellcranks,said third spring being effective, in response to the withdrawal of saidlatch portion of said first latch from said lowermost surface of saidsquare stud by said cooperation of said cycling means and said pivotpawl carried by said cycle initiating slide, to restorably rotate saidpair of interconnected bellcranks and to thereby return said pair ofgrooved shafts and said slides to their normal home positions, saidrestorable rotation of said first bellcrank, through the contact of saidextended stud supporting said first roller with said extension arm ofsaid second latch, being effective to unlatch said cam from said offsetlug of said second latch and to return said first roller to its saidblocking contact with said cutout of said cam, the completion of saidreturn of said pair of grooved shafts and said slides to their saidupper home positions being characterized by the translation of saidcycle initiating slide in the direction of its said unidirectional biasas influenced by said first spring, and by the latchable engagement ofsaid latch portion of said first latch with said uppermost surface ofsaid square stud.